21 April 2012

Richard Georg Strauss: 11 June 1864 - 8 September 1949For decades the song cycle of Richard Strauss known as 'Four Last Songs' has been at the summit of my idea of the most sublimely beautiful music ever written. Strauss died before these songs were premiered in London in 1950. It was not his intention to group the set of the three Hesse poems/songs together with that by Eichendorff, but this was the inspiration of his friend Ernst Roth to unite them as 'The Four Last Songs'. Roth was the chief editor of the musical publishers Boosey & Hawkes. Since Kirsten Flagstad first sang these, every soprano worth her salt wants one day to tackle these pieces when she thinks she is mature enough and ready. Many glancing here will know this work by heart, but I hope some novices will listen quietly to the four songs by different sopranos I have below and be overwhelmed.

FruhlingThis audio recording is by the divine lyric soprano Gundula Janowitz.The lyrics are by Hermann HesseIn dusky caverns I dreamed long of your trees and azure breezes, of your scents and birdsong.Now you lie revealed in glitter and array, bathed in Light like a miracle before me.You recognize me again, tenderly you beckon to me. Through all my limbs quivers your blissful presence.

SeptemberJessye Norman, who shines in everything she puts her voice and intellect to, live at the inaugural concert of the Salisbury Festival 1991 held at Salisbury Cathedral West Green.The lyrics again by Hermann Hesse.The garden is mourningthe rain sinks coolly into the flowersSummer shuddersas it meets its end.Leaf upon leaf drops goldendown from the lofty acacia.Summer smiles, astonished and weak,in the dying garden dream.For a while still by the rosesit remains standing, yearning for peace.Slowly it closes its largeeyes grown weary.

Beim SchlafengehenThe glorious Leontyne Price - Live in New York 1979Words once again by Hermann Hesse.Now that the day has made me so tired,My dearest longings shallBe accepted kindly by the starry nightLike a weary child.Hands cease your activity,Head forget all of your thoughts:All my senses nowWill sink into slumber.And my soul, unobserved,Will float about on untrammelled wingsIn the enchanted circle of the night,Living a thousand fold more deeply.

Im AbendrotElizabeth Schwarzkopf has always been my favourite interpreter of these songs. Perhaps it is because hers was the first version I owned. This stunning live audio recording is with:-The Concertgebouw Orchestra AmsterdamConducted by George Szell at the Consertgebouw 19the June 1964Lyrics this time by Joseph Freiherr von Eichendorff.We've gone through joy and crisisTogether, hand in hand,And now we rest from wanderingAbove the silent land.The valleys slope around us,The air is growing dark,And dreamily, into the haze,There still ascends two larks.Come here, and let them flutter,The time for sleep is soon.We would not want to lose our wayIn this great solitude.O vast and silent peace!So deep in twilight ruddiness,We are so wander-weary - Could this perchance be death?

Pepi and I want to share some cultural interests. Pepi is my fabulous singing dog. He takes his name from Pharaoh Pepi II who Ruled Egypt from the age of 6 to 100 around 2200 BCE. I began this blog to share with you the many and varied things I do, study or admire. I am gay and I suspect my dog may be as well, so the content here is what appeals to me and has a slant towards gay artists and history, but not exclusively. My previous sites attracted a couple of million visitors, hundreds of whom wrote to me. I hope you enjoy your visits. The content of this site is also illustrated with a lot of my photography and extracts from my writings. I do add to and revise old posts from time to time.